John Leguizamo Joins Taron Egerton in Apple Drama Series ‘Firebug,’ Kari Skogland to Direct

Dakota Johnson (“The Lost Daughter”) and Sean Penn (“Mystic River”) will be seen together in “Daddio,” written and directed by Christy Hall in her feature directorial debut. The new cab ride pic envisioned initially as a stage play, will be gracing the big screen on June 28, and Sony Pictures Classics has released a trailer for “Daddio,” giving audiences a better idea of what to expect from the pic that previously debuted at Telluride Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival last year.

Facing relentless foes and sudden bankruptcy, an Atlanta real estate tycoon must claw his way back to the top when his empire begins to crumble. That’s the premise of the new Netflix series, “A Man In Full,” starring Jeff Daniels.

Phillipa Soo is set to star alongside Joshua Jackson and Don Johnson in Dr. Odyssey, a new ABC drama series from Ryan Murphy, which is targeting a fall launch. It hails from 20th Television in association with Ryan Murphy Television.

Emma Thompson (Good Luck to You, Leo Grande) and Ruth Wilson (Luther) have been tapped to star in Down Cemetery Road, a thriller series for Apple TV+, based on the book from Gold Daggar Award-winning author Mick Herron.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter Bokeem Woodbine, Sunita Mani, and Adam Beach have joined the upcoming Apple TV+ dramedy “Government Cheese,” Variety has learned. They will star in the series alongside previously announced lead David Oyelowo as well as Simone Missick.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter Marc Maron has been cast alongside Owen Wilson in an upcoming untitled golf comedy series at Apple TV+, Variety has learned. The series was originally announced in March with Wilson in the lead role. Peter Dager is also set to star in the show.

EXCLUSIVE: Andrew Keegan (10 Things I Hate About You, O, Living Among Us) is to star in an indie drama series from horror actress Devanny Pinn.

Hacks‘ Johnny Sibilly had booked a gig on Station 19 during the show’s final season, airing now on ABC.

Clayton Davis Senior Awards Editor Emmy watchers should not be surprised if multiple top contenders this year opt to take a shot at the drama series race rather than compete in the limited series category. The list is known to include Apple TV+ ‘s “Masters of the Air,” FX’s “Shōgun” and HBO’s “The Sympathizer,” which means that those platforms are considering future seasons of those shows. Multiple sources tell Variety that the top-tier contenders that seemed naturally bound for the limited series race are the subject of intense strategy discussions among network executives, agents, creators, PR and awards consultants.

Netflix's latest crime series Ripley has caused a stir among fans. Releasing on Thursday, April 4, the eight-parter stars Andrew Scott as deadly conman Tom Ripley.

EXCLUSIVE: The General is getting a formidable new opponent.Frank Grillo has joined the Season 2 cast of Taylor Sheridan’s Paramount+ original series Tulsa King, as a new series regular. The new season of the series starring and executive produced by Sylvester Stallone, which is slated to debut this fall, has begun filming in Oklahoma and Atlanta.

EXCLUSIVE: Universal TV has acquired the rights to Liza Palmer’s latest book Family Reservations, which it will develop at NBC with writer/EP Ilene Chaiken and Keshet Studios.

In hindsight, perhaps the Television Academy’s decision to keep eight nominees for the Drama and Comedy Series categories was a mistake. The former will be fine, but the Drama Series category is something of, well, a potential embarrassment of historic proportions.

Pulse, Netflix‘s first original medical procedural, has rounded out its cast with five additional series regulars. Pennyworth star Jack Bannon, The Boys’ Jessie T. Usher, Chelsea Muirhead (Warrior), Daniela Nieves (Vampire Academy) and Jessy Yates (Law & Order: SVU) join previously cast Willa Fitzgerald, Colin Woodell and Justina Machado in the drama series from first-time creator Zoe Robyn and veteran Carlton Cuse.

Two heavyweights of prestige TV, Elisabeth Moss (“The Handmaid’s Tale”) and Kerry Washington (“Scandal”) are teaming up for a new high-profile streaming series titled “Imperfect Women.” Apple TV+ announced yesterday that the limited series is based on the gripping novel by Araminta Hall, which is sure to leave audiences eagerly anticipating its release. Annie Weisman will adapt “Imperfect Women” as both writer and executive producer for television.

John Ortiz has been cast in Will Trent!

John Ortiz (American Fiction) has been cast in ABC’s Will Trent in a recurring role in Season 2.

Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Tony Awards ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages reflect the current standings in the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any individual contender. As other formal (and informal) polls suggest, competitions are fluid and subject to change based on buzz and events.

How is it possible that Apple TV’s high-budget “Palm Royale” doesn’t work? With this insanely talented cast and trendy concept, it should be a slam dunk, right? The main reason it’s not is a depressingly common one in today’s TV and streaming landscape: It’s the wrong length. Like so many recent projects, it wears out its welcome with narrative diversions that don’t work and subplots that sag in the middle of the season to the point where it becomes impossible to care.

EXCLUSIVE: Sky Studios and Groenlandia are readying feature film director Sydney Sibilia’s first TV drama series. Someone Killed Spiderman – Accidentally Famous (working title) is for Sky Italia and is about a non-conformist teenager who becomes on half of successful musical duo 883.